I went to install my 3/4 inch breslin header bolts and when I went to put the 2nd one in it went in fine, but as I started to torque it down it started spinning freely. I backed it out immediately and saw it had striped a thread off (aluminum still stuck to the bolt threads). So now hopefully my tap works right and I can fix it.

I measured the Breslin Bolt and it was 2-3mm longer than 3/4 inch. that 2-3 mm or so was enough to strip one of my head bolt holes.. I'd be very wary of using these.

 

What type of LTs do you have? I thought that you were to use 1" bolts with thick flanged headers? I may be wrong but worth looking into. I believe that 1" ones came with my headers.

 

a friend and I did 2 header installs (mac headers on both our cars) and used the these bolts, we had no problems what so ever. love 'em!!

but yea, I can see why your upset!

 

You should use 1" bolts. Any brand can do this.

But yes you can tap the hole without any trouble, I have put helicoils in them too.

 

We used the 1" Long bolts of I recall too Zero leaks whatsoever on either cars...

 

0 leaks with my APR bolts and they have been tight every time I re-torqued them.

 

I can definitely see why you're upset, but it doesn't seem like a Breslin specific problem. With thick flange headers, you should always go for 1" bolts, regardless of brand or type.

 

Is that an issue? I used 1" stainless steel socket head bolts with no problems.

 

I used 1" stainless steel Breslin bolts without issue.

 

Retapping the hole isn't going to do much for you. There is nothing to re tap seeing as how the threads are what pulled off. Yeah, you will be able to thread it in, but you probably won't be able to torque it correctly and it will most likely work its way loose. To do it correct, you will need to install a heli-coil or equal to one to fix this.

 

Are you saying trhe bolt stripped because it bottomed out???

If using 3/4" bolts and a good header with a nice flange I would sooner thing you put too much torque on it without enough threads sunk. If you use a good header with a 3/8" flange and a decent gasket will be at least another 1/16" leaving just 5/15" at best and the gaskets I like are closer to 1/8" thick meaning just 1/4" left for the head.

I am going to say there was some sort of operator error here not the bolts to blame.

That said trick bolts are made for people who do not bother to understand what happens to cause header bolts to loosen if you understood thing you would be happy with a $8 set of bolts and not have any problems.

 

Standard header bolts work fine on our cars. Most of the issues from leaking are due to the headers or the header gasket.

Dan